MsLatte’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #15): Tiring of your usual telly during lockdown? Want to be transported somewhere else? Try our escapist boxset recommendations

[boatyardblues]

A quiet corner of MN for serious addicts of Kdrama, or the K-curious. (MsLatte is a Her Private Life reference.) Most of our viewing is drawn from Netflix and Viki, with a sprinkling of Dramabus (non subscription, maybe dodgy) and AmazonPrime. 

We also dip into Japanese, Taiwanese & Chinese drama as & when. The previous thread is here but our ‘Addicts Recommend’ list below is cumulative so includes recommendations and favourites from all previous threads.


Shows marked with an asterisk are more uniformly loved or admired. In categorising series, its important to note most Korean dramas have multiple strands - e.g. supernatural, romance and a thriller; crime series with fantasy elements. Genre-busting mash-ups are normal. Series that are tagged as dark may also have moments of comedy or the absurd, likewise fluff can have heavier moments. View the categories below as best approximate & ask if you need guidance, eg about suitability for younger teens.

Comedy (with a side order of absurd)

I picked up a celebrity on the street (Viki)
My Fellow Citizens (Viki)
The Fiery Priest (Netflix)

Crime/Thriller

Come and Hug Me (Dramafast)
Graceful Family (Viki)
Healer (Netflix)*
Heartless City (Viki)
He is Psychometric (Viki)
I Hear Your Voice (Netflix /Viki)

Life on Mars (classy remake of BBC series, Dramafast)
My Secret Terrius (Netflix)*
Signal (Netflix)*
Suspicious Partner (Netflix)*
The Lies Within (Netflix)*
Tunnel (Netflix)*

Historical/Period drama (“sageuk”)
100 Days My Prince (Viki)
Crowned Clown (Viki)*
Mr Sunshine (Netflix)
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (Netflix)
Tale of Nokdu (Viki)*

Romance - lighter & fluffier
Beating Again (Netflix)
Coffee Prince (Netflix)
Don’t Dare to Dream (Netflix, or as Jealousy Incarnate on Viki)*
Gogh, The Starry Night (Viki)

Happy Once Again (Netflix)
Her Private Life (Viki)*

His Master’s Sun (Netflix)

Love from a Star (Netflix)*
Pinocchio (Netflix)
Radio Romance (Netflix)

Romance is the Bonus Book (Netflix)*

She Was Pretty (Dramabus/Netflix)*
The Beauty Inside (Viki/Netflix)
The Secret Life of My Secretary (Viki/Netflix)
Thirty Not Seventeen (Viki) or as Still 17 (Netflix)
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (Netflix/Viki)
What’s Up With Secretary Kim (Viki)*
Where Stars Land (Viki)*
You are my Destiny (Netflix)


Romance - heavier weight/more grown up themes

Another Miss Oh (Netflix)*
Because This Is My First Life (Viki/Netflix)*

Chicago Typewriter (Viki/Netflix)*
Crash Landing on You (Netflix)**
Descendants of the Sun (Viki/Netflix)
Doctors (Netflix)
Fight For My Way (Viki/Drama bus)*
Go Back Couple (Viki)
I’ll Go To You When The Weather is Nice (Viki)

Just Between Lovers (Viki)*
Melo is my Nature (Viki)/Be Melodramatic (Dramafast)
My Strange Hero (Viki)
One Spring Night (Netflix)
Red Carpet - film (Netflix, very adult content)
Romantic Dr Kim - seasons 1&2 (Viki)
Search: WWW (Viki)*

Something in the Rain (Netflix)
The Package (Viki)



Straighter ‘Slice of Life’ dramas on universal themes
Hospital Playlist (Netflix)
Itaewon Class (Netflix)
Live (Netflix)
My Mister (Viki)**
Prison Playbook (Netflix)*

Stove League (Viki)

Supernatural/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - lighter & fluffier

Extraordinary You (Netflix)
Goblin (Viki)*

I am not a Robot (Netflix)
Legend of the Blue Sea (Viki/Netflix)
My Holo Love (Netflix)*
Orange Marmalade (Netflix)

While You Were Sleeping (Viki)*



Supernatural/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - darker/more grown up themes

Black (Netflix)*
Hotel del Luna (Viki)*
Kingdom (Netflix)*

The Guest (Dramafast)
Train to Busan - film (Amazon Prime)

W: Two Worlds (Viki & Netflix)*



Guilty Pleasures (for the joy, not the quality)
Bride of Habaek (Netflix)
Hwarang (Viki/Netflix)
The Last Empress (Viki/Netflix)
Sassy Go Go (Netflix)



Mad as a box of frogs/uncategorisable

Strong Girl Bong Soon (Netflix)

Not Korean but just try it
Regulars occasionally branch out into Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese drama. The Chinese & Taiwanese stuff is much more variable quality-wise, so we’ve noted anything decent here:

Before We Get Married (Viki - Taiwanese)
Go Go Squid (Viki - Chinese)
Instead of Tipsy Why Not Get Drunk (Viki, Chinese)
Love O2O (Viki - Chinese)
Morning Call (Netflix - Japanese)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Netflix - Chinese)
Tientsin Mystic (Netflix, Chinese)

Thread Regulars’ Top 5 Dramas of 2019
(courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, scores range from +10 if very good to -10 for truly awful)

1. Her Private Life - 9.40 (5 votes)
2. Melo is My Nature - 9.00 (5 votes)

3.= Crash Landing On You, The Crowned Clown, The Lies Within, and The Tale of Nokdu - 8.75 (4 votes)

1. Hotel del Luna - 8.50 (4 votes)

5.= Romance is a Bonus Book, and Search: WWW - 8.17 (6 votes)

We are generally fans of all things Korean, so equally happy to talk about Korean cookery, language, film and music when the mood takes us. Quite a few of us are learning Korean, Japanese and/or Mandarin (some more diligently than others admittedly), so we swap tips and links to language resources. Basically, anything topical goes.


We have a few frequently used acronyms:
FL/2FL = female lead/2nd female lead
ML/2ML = male lead/2nd male lead
SLS = Second Lead Syndrome (where the FL/ML is too dense to realise the 2ML/2FL is better)
🥾🍑 (boot, peach) = kick up the arse to go to bed



We also abbreviate titles if they’re long, but usually with an obvious abbreviation. Some favourite actors & actresses have been abbreviated for speed/efficiency, eg Park Min Young (PMY), Kim Jae Wook (KJW). Don’t be afraid to ask for help/clues if we’re not making sense or have descended into acronym soup.



If you want to join us down the kdrama rabbit hole, welcome! Pull up a chair, say goodbye to early nights and get stuck in…

m.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&feature=youtu.be&v=61nuXrvqNgI

She speaks really fast but basically a very good summary of JTTW.

Tove Jansson’s Summer Book (Finnish) is wonderful. It’s about a young girl’s relationship with her grandmother and time spent with her grandmother and father at their summer house on an island. It’s so evocative and different. I read it to my boys as a bedtime story when they were about 9 & 7 and they loved it, particularly because the grandmother encourages the girl’s spirit of adventure and creativity.

See, this sideways exploration of the subject matter is one of the reasons why I love these threads ☺️

The cat in I am a cat in the original Japanese uses archaic and pompous language (think oneself or one) and you can just imagine the haughty cattitude 😁🐱 It's very much the Dowager in Downton abbey 😂😂

Referring back to an earlier discussion, the FL in Gank Your Heart ( thanks for explanation hello ) has just got absolutely wasted on 2 cans of Heineken 🤦🏻‍♀️ Lightweight!
The ML seems like a tsundere version of BTSs Jin 👌

He's only 2 now but I plan to read them with him whenever they are age appropriate. I was gifted some Irish fairy tale books and some French Mister Men when he was born. I've also bought a German version of Harry Potter to add too his collection so I'll definitely look into these recommendations! Haughty cats sounds right up my alley!

I got a recommended YouTube video of sad moments in dramas. Dare I torture myself with the video? What moments do we think will be in there?

Quite enjoying Gank your Heart on dramacool, but my antivirus and adblock software is getting a workout 😱

Dramacool is the one with constant boobage, IIRC. I find it unwatchable.

Is it a Mac vs PC thing? ‘Cos I don’t have that many problems on a Mac

I have the problem on my Mac too. I probably need a better adblocker.

This word feels like it might have some play here: otaku. I clicked through to it from the tsundere definition, which I was trying to explain to DH. He says that Ricky Gervais character in that series about the widower (Life?) would count.

I prefer super fan 😂 I suppose the equivalent word to otaku would be nerd/geek, but otaku has started to shed its negative image.

There’s an interesting article here on perceptions of kpop and Asian male appearance and sexuality with reference to manga - and why Americans in particular in the west distrust it/are uncomfortable with it

bettys... That article is soooo spot on! It says everything I want to say when confronted with ignorance over my love for BTS! 💜😍... though I do recognise I am quite obsessive and in awe! I'm in this Bangtan Shit for Life!... I think the common utterance is! 😂

WRT to KPop, my DSD1 can't wrap her head around the visuals, DD views them as an extension of a character. My DB is always immaculately dressed and takes pride in his appearance, face masks etc the lot, my DS not so much. To me it's a matter of preference, my 'type' has always been tall, broad, has good hands and tsundere.That doesn't change whether I'm looking at Asian, Caucasian or black men. I also feel that being exposed to just one view of gender role is not great for either sex. DD tries to pull the 'scared because I'm a girl' thing and is always pulled up on it by me. DH is the more nurturing kind parent, I'm the DIY and practical skills parent. Because I'm a...doesn't fly in this house, even though it's a complete pain when DS uses my own arguments against me when I suggest he should offer to carry the shopping. ("Wouldn't want you to think I think you're weak mother" 😒) I mean he does it, just witters on about it for too long.

Cultural differences in the perception of Male attractiveness and sexuality are really interesting, especially since homophobia is still strong in a lot of Asian countries where male attractiveness is more fluid.

To me it's a matter of preference, my 'type' has always been tall, broad, has good hands and tsundere.

Add well groomed and you have described my perfect type too. 👌

I love this thread; intelligent discussion of literature/culture AND favourite Oppas 👌.

I've been binging my way through Memorist and I'm saving the last ep till tomorrow as I'm on a early shift in the morning so I need to go to bed. Although I stupidly watched the teaser for the last episode which revealed the ID of the killer they've been looking for all series 🙄. I've really enjoyed it but it's a bit tense and gruesome. Lots of creeping down dark tunnels! But I've never known such a lovely bunch of cops in a series 😍.

I’ve started watching Personal Taste on Viki. The ML is Lee Min Ho, FL is Son Ye Jin. She thinks he’s gay (misunderstanding) when he’s actually a bit of a ladies‘ man and they end up sharing a house (Ho ho ho). It’s a touch dated in look & feel, but Son Ye Jin is on top form. LMH - meh, but he’s quite good at what he does. I will report back.

thegirl... Ooo! I'm so glad you're enjoying The Memorist! Bettys has started but not finished... I need someone else to appreciate it with! Yes! The cops are soooo lovely! And I got dizzy with the twists and turns of the tale! Great stuff! Enjoy the finale! 👍👍

I watched Personal Taste over the weekend and thought it dealt with the same sex issue sensitively for it's time. I loved the house. LMH character is selfish and bit one dimensional, although he does own the fact that he can be cruel to get what he wants. I am loving his brooding, dark look in Faith though.

I started watching it because I love SYJ, she played the submissive, downtrodden role well, and I do like the fact she gets more feisty. The SML and SFL played 'baddy'parts well., I really liked the actor Rye Seung Ryong portrayal of Director Choi. I thought it was very understated and dignified. Overall I would give it a 7, as I enjoyed the different story line, laughed a few times, and generally liked the ML and FL characters.
It will be good to hear your thoughts Boaty .
Definitely going to start Memoirist after Faith, I was waylaid at weekend watching other things.
Has anyone watched Rugal?

fifi I started Rugal but couldn't get into it even though I normally will watch CJH in anything. It could just have been the fact that since lockdown I've not really watched anything violent (hence not finishing Memorist ) Also found it rather humourless

The baddy in Gank Your Heart is annoying me. Everyone knows he's a git why don't they just fire him???

Also pleased to note that the FLs in Gank aren't such ditsy goofballs. The PPL is pretty funny with the FLs oohing & aching over instant snacks (but rarely actually eating the massive pots of instant stew or whatever it is )

May take a look at Personal Taste as it doesn't sound as bad as I thought it would be.

It is dated Betty, but has solid leads.

Thanks to Refresh Man I now have a terrible snack... Toast with peanut butter and chocolate spread! The ML has it for breakfast but insists on chocolate on one half and peanut butter on the other half of his toast. I just bunged it together and it's like eating Snickers on toast! I only ever have chunky peanut butter so the experience is even better 😍

Toast with peanut butter and chocolate spread! The ML has it for breakfast but insists on chocolate on one half and peanut butter on the other half of his toast. I just bunged it together and it's like eating Snickers on toast!

Damn you! That sounds so delicious I want to try it.

monkeywench that sounds lovely, but also something I could only eat once for fear of getting addicted!

I'm watching Girlfriend, a Chinese contract relationship turned I don't even know drama. It really could have been 16 episodes if they stopped putting in 45 second longing glances every 2 minutes and montages of stares over dramatic music.